Proposal on 'Quasi-Publication of Regional Logistics' Based on the 8th Comprehensive Logistics Policy Outline Submitted to Digital Minister Matsumoto

The National New Smart Logistics Promotion Council (Shibuya-ku, Tokyo; Chairman: Mitsugu Takenaka, Mayor of Kamishihoro Town, Hokkaido; hereinafter 'the Council') submitted the latest May 2026 version of the 'Quasi-Publication of Regional Logistics' proposal (hereinafter 'the Proposal'), based on the 8th Comprehensive Logistics Policy Outline, to Digital Minister Hisashi Matsumoto on May 26, with the aim of realizing sustainable regional logistics utilizing next-generation technologies such as drones.

Photo of the submission to Digital Minister Matsumoto (from left: Representative Hirokazu Nakagawa, House of Representatives; Vice Chairman Naomi Funaki, Mayor of Kosuge Village; Director Keisuke Taji, President and Group CEO of Aeronext Inc.; Digital Minister Hisashi Matsumoto; Director Shuji Kawai, President of Seino Last One Mile Co., Ltd.; Chairman Mitsugu Takenaka, Mayor of Kamishihoro Town)

[Background of the Proposal]

This proposal aims to build a sustainable regional logistics infrastructure through the 'quasi-publication of regional logistics.' Quasi-publication refers to a model where local governments take the lead, consolidate parcels at collection points (depots) through joint delivery within a certain area, and then deliver the last mile using advanced technologies such as drones or through a mutual aid system involving local residents, thereby realizing sustainable and efficient regional delivery.

Given the current difficulties in regional last-mile delivery due to depopulation and driver shortages, the Council formulated a proposal last May under the name 'Community Delivery' to work toward its realization. The May 2025 version of the proposal presented the concept and design direction of community delivery and was submitted to the then Digital Minister and Minister of State for Special Missions.

Furthermore, in FY2025, all directors of the Council were selected as members of the 'Study Group for Efficiency Improvement of Last-Mile Delivery' hosted by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, contributing to discussions and proposals. As a result of such activities, the '8th Comprehensive Logistics Policy Outline' (FY2026-2030), formulated on March 31 of this year, incorporated support for regional logistics councils where shippers, logistics operators, and local governments collaborate to specify quasi-publication; systematization for logistics hub development involving local governments; review of guidelines and consideration for increasing the number of drones in drone delivery; and integration of joint transport/drone delivery systems in normal times and disaster response.

However, since remaining issues and necessary concrete actions have become apparent, the Council has compiled a new proposal.

[Key Points of the Proposal]

This proposal recommends three pillars to be addressed in the next phase, building on policy progress:

① Early social implementation of quasi-publication of regional logistics and new smart logistics

② Establishment of phase-free logistics infrastructure

③ Realization of Level 3.9 (fully autonomous operation using simultaneous remote automatic control without operator intervention and AI technology)

The submitted May 2026 version of the 'Quasi-Publication of Regional Logistics' proposal can be referenced here.

[Future Outlook]

Going forward, the Council will continue to collaborate with local governments and logistics operators nationwide, working on building best practices through demonstration experiments, creating guidelines through case collection, and contributing to policy formation by the government and local governments from the private sector.

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Materials

[What is New Smart Logistics?]

Logistics is closely related to various issues faced by local communities, such as shopping refugees, medical refugees, and disaster response. Additionally, the logistics industry itself faces many challenges, including labor shortages, environmental and energy issues, and digital transformation. Utilizing digital and technology to solve these challenges is essential to maintaining the sustainability of regional logistics and protecting communities where people can live richly and vibrantly.

Specifically, optimizing the movement of goods within a region, consolidating and streamlining the flow of goods entering and leaving the region, achieving the best mix of land and air transport, passenger-freight co-loading, and multilayer use of automation technologies to optimize the flow of goods in local communities, thereby achieving labor savings and decarbonization. This is the concept of 'New Smart Logistics.'

[What is the National New Smart Logistics Promotion Council?]

The Council was established on May 16, 2022, with five local governments as founders, to contribute to creating a prosperous local society through the early social implementation of new smart logistics, by openly sharing information, exchanging experiences, and conducting discussions and research across the boundaries of the logistics industry and beyond, gathering expertise from private companies centered on local governments. Currently, more than 50 members have joined, centering on local governments.

Currently, the Council is promoting various initiatives and activities through public-private partnerships to improve efficiency and optimize the flow of goods in local communities, mainly through a combination of existing land transportation and drone delivery, making last-mile logistics sustainable. In recent years, the Council has been actively working on themes such as drone delivery contracts, middle-mile joint transport, and realization of phase-free infrastructure through a subcommittee framework.

(*) Kamishihoro Town (Hokkaido), Kosuge Village (Yamanashi Prefecture), Sakai Town (Ibaraki Prefecture), Tsuruga City (Fukui Prefecture), Higashikawa Town (Hokkaido)

◆ For details, please visit https://smartlogistics.jp/.